Manuals, Books, Pamphlets and Lectures by Montgomery, 1942-46
Monty was a professional soldier who authored a number of training pamphlets as well as books on the subject of military leadership and soldier craft. He was, in my opinion, an effective writer and possessed that rare gift of mastery of his subject, eloquence and being able to deliver a written point effectively. This is encapsulated in his "Some Notes on High Command in War", where he proffered the following "Final Advice":
My final advice to any officer who may be called on to exercise high command in war is as follows:--
Field Marshal Montgomery authored (or was a main contributor) to the following training pamphlets and books. I have included links to downloadable pdfs:
Eighth Army:
My final advice to any officer who may be called on to exercise high command in war is as follows:--
- Have a good Chief of Staff.
- Go for simplicity in everything.
- Cut out all paper and train your subordinates to work on verbal instructions and orders.
- Keep a firm grip on the basic fundamentals -- the things that really matter.
- Avoid being involved in details; leave them to your staff.
- Study the factor of morale; it is the big thing in war and without a high morale you can achieve nothing.
- When the issue hangs in the balance radiate confidence in the plan and in the operations, even if inwardly you feel not too certain of the outcome.
- Never worry.
- Never belly-ache.
- Keep fit and fresh, physically and mentally. You will never win battles if you become mentally tired, or get run down in health.
Field Marshal Montgomery authored (or was a main contributor) to the following training pamphlets and books. I have included links to downloadable pdfs:
Eighth Army:
- Some Brief Notes for Senior Officers on the Conduct of Battle (December, 1942)
- Some Notes on High Command in War (First edition January, 1943; second edition September, 1943) [link to pdf]
- Some Notes on the Conduct of War and the Infantry Division in Battle (Belgium, November 1944) [link to pdf]
- Some Notes on the Use of Air Power in Support of Land Operations and Desert Support (Holland, Dec. 1944) [link to pdf]
- The Armoured Division in Battle (Holland, December 1944) [link to pdf]
- High Command in War (Germany, June 1945) [link to pdf]
- Modern Administration in the Field in European Warfare (Germany, October 1945)
- Lecture on Military Leadership (November, 1945). Montgomery delivered this lecture at St. Andrews. This is the St. Andrews edition; there is also a BAOR-published version [link to pdf]
- Morale in Battle: Analysis (Germany, April 1946). This wonderful tome was also reprinted by the Royal Navy for it's use in a pamphlet titled "Confidential Admiralty Fleet Order: Notes on leadership, morale and discipline, compiled by Field Marshal, the Right Honourable The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, Chief of the Imperial General Staff". [link to pdf]
- Eighth Army: El Alamein to the River Sangro. Published by Printing and Stationery Services British Army of the Rhine, 1946. Book, with fold out maps, recounting the Eighth Army's exploits while under Montgomery's command. Print run of about 1,000. Subsequently published commercially by Hutchinson & Co.
- 21 Army Group: Normandy to the Baltic. Published by Printing and Stationery Services British Army of the Rhine, 1946. Book, with fold out maps, recounting Monty's 21st Army Group's exploits up to the German surrender. Print run of about 1,000 in hardcover and 24 in "presentation grade" padded red leather binding. Subsequently published commercially by Hutchinson & Co.
- Ten Chapters 1942 to 1945. Published by Printing and Stationery Services British Army of the Rhine, 1946. Select pages of Monty's personal diary relating to important events of his campaigns. Subsequently published commercially by Hutchinson & Co.